Introduction - Welcome to pocketmod!
Hello stranger, I’ve heard you’re here to design your own pocketmod - a USB dongle for your laptop (or PC) which provides some sort of functionality. Before you can start, I’ve got some notes for you.
First of all we need to make sure, the project is actually made by you and how long it took you to make.
Timetracking
- For the hardware (pcb, case, assembly) use Lapse to make a timelapse of your work and provide a short journal by writing about 2-3 sentences about what you did after every session in the journal book so that others can understand your work.
- For coding use Hackatime to track your working time.
Second, lets define what a pocketmod can be.
Requirements - what should my pocketmod have?
- Plugs into an USB port (A, B or C)
- Provides some kind of functionality
- If it has a programmable MCU either provide a self-written firmware or tells us which other firmware you want to flash on it (like Meshtastic, pico-fido, etc.)
- If your pocketmod requires a special software on the host PC (i.e. for sending system data which is displayed on a display or receiving some sort of inputs) also provide a version of this software
- Optional: Design a case, get it 3d printed by #printing-league
You may ask yourself, what you’ll get for it
Prizes
When submitting your project, you’ll receive a grant at 4.5$ per working hour to get it manufactured (for example from JLCPCB), after you’ve shipped your project, the remaining money on the grant card will be converted to sticks at the rate of 1$ = 1 sticks. Additionally you can earn bonus sticks by participating in the community, helping others or reaching certain milestones in your design. The sticks can be redemed in the shop to get tools useful for your project and other prizes. If you need more money to get it manufactured, you can try adding additional features to your pcb or firmware/software for more hours. If it should be absolutely not possible, dm @leost on slack and we try to work something out.
The process
- design your pocketmod (maybe + firmware / case) + track your time
- submit your project
- receive a manufacturing grant (4.5$/h) + get it manufactured
- ship your project by uploading a short clip of it build
- get prizes
- (repeat)
Like often in life, we also have certain
Rules
- be nice to everyone, follow the Code of Conduct
- no AI slop, you can totally use AI for asking questions or help, but we will reject projects which are just completely made by AI with no human effort
Guides
If you’re new to pcb design, head over to our [beginner tutorial](FIRST PCB LINK). For additional tips & resources, have a look on the [resources page](RESOURCES LINK).
So everything clear? If not head to the FAQ section, ask in #pocketmod or DM me (@leost on slack).





















